Dental-rubber-dam holder



(NoModeL) v R H MOPPITT DENTAL RUBBER DAM HOLDER- I I No. 296,992. 'Patented. Apr; 15, 1884. Y

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, the invention, which, with the aid of the ac- T0 on whom it may concern:

ihsirnn Srarns PATENT @rrrcnl ROBERT H. MOFFITT, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DENTAL-RUBBER-DAM HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,992, dated April 15, 188%. Application filed February 19, 1884. (No model.)

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. MOFFITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the count-y of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber-Dam Holders; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of companying drawings, will enable skilled sans to make and use the same.

Heretofore the rubber dama well-known article used by dentists to protect the tooth from moisture while being filled-has been attached by the ordinary clamp, and the outer portions of the rubber dam have been held away from the opening of the mouth by weights attached to its lower margin, and by clasps and a band connecting them rearward around the head, for keeping the mouth unobstructed in filling teeth. In the said method, however, the rubber dam had to be of ample extent, to enable the margins thereof to be kept out of the way, as set forth. The rubber dam being an expensive article, the above-named method was therefore not as economical nor as perfect as desired. In my improved holder for the rubber dam there need be used a much less quantity of said article, and it can be better stretched away from the mouth-opening, it holding the rubber dam smoother and firmer in place and entirely out of the way of the operator in filling teeth. It also compresses or draws the lips back, thus making more room and letting more light into the mouth, and freeing both hands of the operator, and therefore gives him every advantage possible while filling teeth or operating on them.

My invention consists of .a frame having two peculiarly curved or arched parts united in line with or nearly in line with the corners of the mouth, and presenting between said arched portions a much larger opening than the mouth to which it is applicable. Said up per arched portion has a middle portion arched or projected frontward, which is adapted to rest on the upper part of the upper lip-that is, under the nose. The lower arched portion is adapted to rest on the chin directly below the lower lip. Said arched portions are pro vided with sharp hooked teeth on their outartiprotect the hands of the operator against injury from said hooked teeth while operating. The device is held on the head by a rubber band or cord and suitable attachments for clasping its ends and for taking up the slack thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my rubberdam holder proper with the band, clasp, and slide thereon. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the rubber dam in position on my rubber-dam holder, and the shield applied thereon as in position while operating on a tooth to fill it.

,Similar references denote similar parts.

A A M a denote the rubber-dam holder proper. A denotes the upper-arched portion, which is adapted to apply to the upper part of the upper-lip, the portions B B being curving, to apply to the front portions of the cheeks. M denotes the lower arched portion, which is adapted to apply to the chin. A denotes the parts where said upper and lower arched portions are united, forming extensions in which the rings 1) are inserted, to which latter the band D is directly and perinanentlyjoined at one end and removably at the other end by the clasp E, a slide, G, being slid to place, as desired, on the band to regulate its length.

Letter a denotes little hooks or sharp teeth bent outward from the middle of the inclosure of the frame. Said hooks are for piercing the rubber dam and holding it when stretched and applied thereon, as shown in Fig. 2.

Letter 0 denotes staples for attaching the shield N M over the rubber-dam holder and covering the hooks a, that they may not come in contact with the hand of the operator. Said shield N M is similar in form and applies closely to said rubber-dam holder A A M a, and it has recesses or notches onits under side, where the hooks a come when the same is applied in place over them. The ends A of the shield are shorter than the ends A of the holder A A M a, and theyhave holes through them to let the staples 0 through the same,

which staples are combined with latches (Z, for holding the said shield securely superimposed on the rubber dam H and the holder A A M a, as shown.

In lieu of the staples O and latches (I, one of the ends A may be hinged to the holder A A M a, or otherwise joined thereto, and the opposite end A" may be embraced by a clasp.

The rubber dam H is applied to a tooth, K, by the usual clamp well known to dentists, after which the outer portions or margins of the rubber dam are hooked on the hooks a, the frame AAM a being held to the patients head by the band D. After the rubber dam is thus secured in stretched condition, the shield N M is applied, as shown, and the device is complete for the convenience of the operator.

It is evident that my rubber-dam holder is a very good article without the part termed a shield, but with the latter it is positively a complete thing for the purpose, as already tested by practice.

The frames of the holder and the shield may be made of metal, vulcanized rubber, or other material, and I do not limit myself to the exact shape of the same as shown.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The rubber-dam holder consisting of a frame having an arched portion adapted to apply ovcr the upper lip transversely, and an arched or curved portion adapted to apply below the lower lip and extended to embrace said other arched portion, both said portions being provided with attaching-hooks for holding the rubber dam thereon, and means for attaching said frame to the head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The rubber-dam holder A A M a, provided with band D, in combination with the shield N M, applied to the said holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ROBERT H. MOFFITT.

lVitnesses:

THEOPHILUS n-avian, D. O. MAURER. 

